Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may possibly not have been able to be helped before, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.